Israel said early Friday that it plans to occupy Gaza City, in another escalation of its 22-month war in the Palestinian enclave.
The decision, made after a late-night meeting of top officials, drew Palestinian rejection, fuelled mounting international calls to end the war and provoked worries in Israel over the fate of captives still held by Hamas.
Hamas rebuffed Netanyahu’s plans in a statement and said people in Gaza would "remain defiant against occupation."
A major ground operation there could displace tens of thousands of people and further disrupt efforts to deliver food to the hunger-stricken territory.
More than 60,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive since October 2023, mostly civilians, Gaza's health ministry says. Close to 200 other people have died of hunger-related causes due to Israel's blockade.